20th Century-Fox Dynamo (August 5, 1939)

STUDIO SPECIAL 7A Continued from Page 6A the saber-rattling dictators. President Roosevelt, realizing this is an electrifying appeal to the coun- try, has won approval of his plan for the training of 20,000 new aviators each year, a great reserve of flyers—young men selected from colleges. From this timely and unprecedented development in aviation, the studio plans to make a major production, with the cooperation of the United States Government. Commander Frank Wead is the author. He wrote “Hell Divers,” “Ceiling Zero,” and “Test Pilot.” There will be the conflict of many personalities. While the theme is aviation, it is not a picture of the air. It is the story of an old-time hard-boiled pilot, kicked out of the Air Service because he can no longer pass the physical examination. He is an illiterate person who never went past the fourth grade in school—who finds himself at one of the smartest universities of the country, where he is pitted against the intelligentsia. It is the story of the conflict of personalities behind the scenes, the making of young students into flyers—and their obstacles. Randolph Scott, who is currently scoring a personal hit in “Frontier Marshal,” will play the male lead. Alfred E. Green is the director. Screenplay is by Lou Breslow and Owen Francis. THE ESCAPE—Formerly titled “East Side, West Side.” Another outstanding special on the Wurtzel K-7 lineup, based on the stage play and book of the same title. A human story of New York, about three orphaned nephews from Illinois who come into the two-room East Side home of their Aunt Mamie. Among the characters who play a major role in this story are a kindly old man, Pironi, who runs a grocery store in the slum neighborhood; his son, Louis, just released from serving a five-year sentence in Sing Sing; his daughter, Julie, who teaches in a public school; a rookie policeman who is in love with the young teacher, and the night club entertainer-daughter of Aunt Mamie. Also, there is environment of the most colorful sort, a struggle for livelihood, bad com- pany, etc. Mix these together and the result is drama and melodrama of a two-fisted quality. Ricardo Cortez is the director of this production. In the cast are Kane Richmond, Amanda Duff, Henry Armetta, Edward Norris, June Gale, Leona Roberts, Scotty Beckett, Rex Downing, Jimmy Butler, Nick Copeland, A1 Hill, Sammy Finn and 5-year-old Sandra Richards. Screen play is by Robert Ellis and Helen Logan. Completed. HEAVEN WITH A BARBED WIRE FENCE—An orig- inal story by Dalton Trumbo, who wrote “A Man to Remember,” one of last year’s most praised screen hits, it tells the story of a 19-year-old boy, Joe Riley, unable to gain employment in New York. He heads West to claim the 40 acres willed him by his deceased uncle. In the drama enters Nikola Novotny, 17, who has escaped from an orphans’ home to try her luck in Hollywood. The pair meet and take to “riding the rails” and during their eventful trip they make two friends, the Professor, a kindly old hobo, and Tony, a youngster who has been “bumming” his way for years. They also make an enemy of Hunk, a brutal, gorilla-like hobo who swears vengeance on the four after an altercation in a hobo “jungle.” “Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence” is a drama of the youth of today, a bewildered youth, skeptical, with little confidence in civilization, viewing the fu- ture without hope—and living for today. High comedy and stark tragedy and ultimate happiness mark the road of these youngsters seeking their heaven with a barbed wire fence. In the cast are Jean Rogers, Glenn Ford, Raymond Walburn, Marjorie Rambeau and others. Ricardo Cortez is the director. In the cutting department. STOP, LOOK AND LOVE — Young love’s struggle against an overly ambitious mother. The girl, ap- proaching young spinsterhood, nearly loses her big chance for happiness when her mother again inter- feres. Father holds no influence in this household, but before the story ends he gains his independence, the daughter wins the man she loves and the meddle- some, scheming mother sees the error of her way. A comedy romance based on a stage play. Cast includes Jean Rogers, Robert Kellard, Cora Sue Collins, Jay Ward, Helen Freeman, Roger McGee and William Frawley. Otto Brower is the director. Delivered to New York. THE SIMPLE LIFE—A Wurtzel production based on an original story by William Anthony McGuire, deal- ing with the hilarious adventures of a young married couple who live beyond their means. Marjorie Weaver and Stuart Erwin will be featured as the young and misguided couple. Chick Chandler also is in the cast. Miss Weaver and Erwin will be re-united for the first time since their triumph in “Second Honeymoon” several years ago. William Beaudine will direct. HOLD ME TIGHT—A hilarious comedy with moments of pathos and tenderness, telling the highlights of a young couple’s first year of marriage. The modern story of jitterbugs gone matrimonial. As timely a comedy as has been announced by any company for production for next season’s release. Based on Frank Craven’s stage success. TAKE YOUR HAPPINESS—A domestic comedy drama of family obligations that keep a pair of lovers apart .STORY FOUNDATION FOR ! MAJOR K-7 PRODUCTIONS j \ | The Following Zanuck 1939-40 productions are based on i I best selling novels and popular books: I Louis Bromfield's “The Rains Came” 0 M I j “Drums Along the Mohawk j Maeterlinck’s “Blue Bird” * ' John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath" ! "Here I Am a Stranger” j * “Mark of Zorro” • 1 “Lady Jane” ’ j The following are important stage plays that will be j I transferred to the screen by Zanuck: I “Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” j “Scotland Yard” ‘ s “Little Old New York” ! | Following are his custom-made, original stories: ’ | “Hollywood Cavalcade” ! “Stanley and Livingstone” Irving Berlin's "Say It With Music" ! “Brigham Young” ; “Swanee River” ! “Everything Happens at Night” , | Van Dine's “Shadows in the Snow" j “Eisa Maxwell’s Hotel for Women” ! j “Public Deb No. 1” t j “20,000 Men a Year" i j The following are based on widely read stories that ap- j i peared in nationally circulated magazines: I j “Dance With the Devil” ‘ "The Postman Walks Alone” | “Day-Time Wife” until they are forced to take the situation into their own hands. A surprising expose of what youth with a will to win can do. Another adaptation of a stage hit, with cast and director to be announced later. “Detour to Love” and “Happiness Preferred” are other titles being considered for this story. NO MAN IS SAFE—What an exploitation title! And what a story! Here is the story of a girl who selects the man she wants to marry. How she finally wins him furnishes the plot for countless comic situations. A sparkling comedy that will attract much interest. A triangle complicates matters, but in the end the girl makes her conquest. More details later. LIVING HIGH—It is apparent from the subject matter and from the title of the Wurtzel K-7 productions that they will be extremely packed with exploitation pos- sibilities. All of them will carry a higher budget than is represented by any Wurtzel special of the past. “Living High” is, certainly, a showman’s title. The story, already written, is based on the adventures of two couples living beyond their means, who get into plenty of trouble. Their lives almost wrecked by the experience, these couples’ adventures offer lessons in life and how to live—and with a wealth of whole- some hilarity. INSIDE INFORMATION—Another adaptation of a stage play. Trouble comes in bunches when the jockeys r. TYPES OF K-7 STORIES! SPECTACLES The Rains Came Hollywood Cavalcade Drums Along the Mohawk The Grapes of Wrath Maeterlinck’s Blue Bird Lady Jane Little Old New York MUSICALS Say It With Music Swanee River BIOGRAPHICAL Brigham Young DOMESTIC COMEDIES 4 Jones Family Day-Time Wife COMEDY DRAMAS Hotel for Women 4 Jane Withers MELODRAMATIC 20,000 Men a Year OUTDOORS 3 “Cisco Kid” Stories DRAMAS Stanley and Livingstone Mark of Zorro Dance With the Devil Dance Hall Johnny Apollo Here I Am a Stranger ROMANCES Everything Happens at Night In Love With Love Public Deb No. 1 MYSTERIES The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Scotland Yard Shadows in the Snow 4 “Charlie Chans” COMEDY Shipyard Sally Roughnecks Jubilo (tt) at a big race-track get together and “arrange” a race so that the winnings on money they wager can be used to pay for an operation for a brother-rider who has been crippled in a turf accident. This one has lots of excitement and unfolds a melodramatic love story. More details later regarding cast and director. SEALED LIPS—A melodramatic adaptation of a stage hit of several years ago. The story of a man who carries a secret to the electric chair, the secret of his identity, sacrificing his life to save from disgrace those whom he loves. A soul-stirring story. “I Won’t Talk” and “It’s My Secret” are other titles being considered, but “Sealed Lips” is more intriguing and leads itself to vigorous exploitation. JANE WITHERS SERIES—There will be four releases in this series, starring one of the first 10 box office stars. Jane Withers, who was so voted by exhibitors and by ticket-buyers. Her first for the 1939-40 sea- son is “The Chicken Wagon Family” with Leo Car- rillo, Marjorie Weaver, Kane Richmond, Spring Byington and others. Based on the novel by Barry Benefield. Directed by Herbert I. Leeds. The second is “Roughnecks” and has been referred to as “Tin Hats,” with Jane co-starring with the Ritz Brothers. Lynn Bari also is in the cast. Based on story by Lou Breslow and Owen Francis. H. Bruce Humberstone is the director. Fourth of the series will co-star Gene Autrey, No. 1 cowboy star, in “Jubilo” based on the famous story by Ben Ames Williams. Rest of cast and other details later. New titles will be given production. Third of the series will be “High School,” with Jane starting in high school. It is planned to make one high school picture with Jane annually, showing her as freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. In cast Marvin Stephens will play oppo- site Jane. Lillian Porter also is in cast. George Nichols will direct. CISCO KID SERIES—The most important news to come from the Wurtzel camp. Decision to make a series based on the further romantic and dramatic adven- tures of this colorful outlaw followed numerous re- quests from exhibitors throughout the world. In one story the Cisco Kid will be seen in his homeland, Portugal, a fugitive from America. In another he will be exploring and making new conquests of heart and pocketbook among the “con” men and gold-dig- gers, glamour girls, etc., of Broadway in New York. Cesar Romero will be starred as the Cisco Kid. A feminine star will play opposite him in each release. More details later. First of the series will be started late this month. CHARLIE CHAN SERIES—There will be four releases in this universally popular series, starring Sidney Toler as the Oriental sleuth. Toler’s characterization of Chan has been praised everywhere. A recent ex- hibitor survey showed a demand for more releases in this series; hence, the studio announces four for 1939-40. The first will be “Charlie Chan at Treasure Island,” a mystery drama with the Golden Gate International Exposition for its locale. Edward Kauf- man is the associate producer. In the cast also are Cesar Romero, Pauline Moore, Sen Yung, John Carra- dine, Sally Blane, Wally Vernon, June Gale, Douglas Fowley, Douglas Dumbrille and Billie Seward. Nor- man Foster is the director. Second in series is “Charlie Chan in a City in Darkness,” with Lynn Bari, Pedro de Cordoba and others, and Herbert Leeds directing; third, “Charlie Chan in Rio,” and fourth, “Charlie Chan in Washington.” THE JONES FAMILY—There will be four in this established series. John Stone is the associate pro- ducer of the first release, definitely entitled “The Jones Family in Quick Millions,” formerly known as “The Jones Family at the Grand Canyon.” Directed by Malcolm St. Clair. Robert Shaw, young Dallas “find,” has the juvenile lead. Helen Erickson, Eddie Collins and John T. Murray also are in the cast featuring the original Jones family. In production. Edward Kaufman will be associate producer on the second release, “The Jones Family in Too Busy to Work.” The last two releases have not yet been titled. The original Jones Family cast will be fea- tured in each production, with cast additions, when required, being “name” players. PETER B. KYNE STORY—Based on story, “Corn Cob Kelly,” but a new title will be announced later. More details later. DOG MELODRAMA—Based on a story by James Oliver Curwood, featuring cleverest dog in Hollywood. More details later. I j VYVYAN DONNER’S FASHION FORECAST —A series of super Technicolor productions featuring the world’s most beautiful and best known models, and handsome men. The outstanding feature of the cur- rent season’s program of short subjects, the 1939-40 series will be even more lavish and produced under Continued on Page 8A